CoolTouch Inc. Responds to Cynosure Patent Infringement Lawsuit

ROSEVILLE, Calif., Jan. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- CoolTouch Inc., a pioneering
manufacturer of medical lasers, states the CoolTouch CoolLipo(TM) 1320
wavelength laser was designed to be superior to the Cynosure SmartLipo 1064
technology and does not infringe. Among other reasons, the CoolLipo
incorporates state-of-the-art 1320 nm laser technology, coated fibers, and a
variety of handpieces which allow the fiber to be extended beyond the end of
the cannula, thereby not infringing the '873 patent whose claims require that
the fiber must be adjacent to the end of the cannula. The CoolTouch advantage
of extending the fiber beyond the cannula helps prevent inadvertent heating of
the cannula and assists in cutting connective tissue.
Additionally, thousands of pulsed Nd:Yag lasers with specifications
identical to the SmartLipo have been sold since the mid-1980s. The fiber
optic and delivery handpieces described in the '873 patent have also been
commercially available for over 20 years for use in orthopedics, general
surgery, urology and oral surgery. Combine this "off-the-shelf technology"
with the pioneering clinical work by Drs. Dressel and Apfelberg and others in
the early 1990s on laser-assisted lipolysis and the Paolini patent claims are
obvious, invalidating the patent. The recent Supreme Court rulings on
obviousness may also play a role in invalidating these patents.
"We welcome the opportunity to establish the facts with respect to patents
that Cynosure claims are being infringed through our sales of the CoolLipo(TM)
laser for laser-assisted lipolysis," states CoolTouch CEO Dave Hennings. "It
will be good to get the facts established so that we can continue to focus on
providing the latest technology to our present and future a
esthetically-focused physicians."
CoolTouch has developed an extensive patent portfolio over the past 14
years including three important patents used to percutaneously tighten skin
and treat wrinkles. Cynosure's exposure to these patents will also be part of
this litigation. The CoolTouch technology is described in the recently
published CoolTouch patent application # US2007/0293849.
"We will vigorously defend our own patent portfolio," according to
Hennings. "We have spent a great deal of time and effort developing these
technologies and will enforce them by license or otherwise where it makes
sense."
About CoolTouch
CoolTouch Inc. located in Roseville, California designs, manufactures and
markets light-based aesthetic and medical products with a firm commitment to
continuing innovation and excellent customer service. The CoolTouch Nd:YAG
product line includes: the CoolTouch CT3PLUS(TM) 1320 nm with CoolBreeze(TM)
mode for painless acne and wrinkle treatment for all skin types, The
CoolTouch VARIA(TM) 1064 nm, providing safe and effective treatment for hair
removal, vascular conditions and skin tightening and the CoolTouch CTEV(TM)
1320 nm endovenous laser for treatment of varicose veins.
For more information please visit http://www.cooltouch.com
SOURCE CoolTouch Inc.

CoolTouch Inc., +1-916-677-1900